GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA ON AVIAN, PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

UNCLAS ABUJA 001683

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR EAID ECON KSCA PREL SOCI TBIO XX NI AVIANFLU
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA ON AVIAN, PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

REF: STATE 164134


1. Embassy Abuja's Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) and an
economic officer met on Sept. 9, 2005 with Ambassador Abdul
Bin Rimdap, director general of the Nigerian Foreign
Ministry's international organizations.


2. DCM presented ref talking points on the U.S. Government's
intention to launch at the upcoming UN General Assembly
(UNGA) session the International Partnership on Avian and
Pandemic Influenza.


3. While not formally pledging the GON's support for the
partnership, Rimdap agreed it is better to address avian flu
before this becomes an even greater problem. He added,
"This is something" that the African group of countries also
should be able to support.

CAMPBELL